by Mameneh
As I mentioned in other posts, I was going to talk a little about religion in the coming weeks. My experiences as a Christian has been eventful in the least. With this thought, I have been researching religion and its’ relations to people. I have asked questions of different individuals and drew from their views and experiences to write this article. The focus is on Christianity, but could align with other religions.
This is a touchy subject, so bear with me.
On a recent volunteer mission to an African Church, I was humiliated when the guest Pastor for this church ordered me to “get out” of the service in the middle of prayer for not kneeling. In all my life as a Christian, I had not been forced to do anything in church, that includes taking Communion, closing my eyes during prayer, standing for the reading of the gospel, etc. I had simply been asked. So, like some members that day, I chose to sit. Later, the Pastor condemned me and said that I could die stepping out of the church. I was a little taken aback by the proclamation, but proceeded to bow in prayer. That is when I was literally thrown out, escorted by a church member out the door. I felt punished for not kneeling. Before heading out the door, one of the members pulled me back and asked me to “kneel for God and not for her (the Pastor).” I responded that “God did not care if I kneel.” This I took to heart because as a Christian, we interpret God and the message of the Bible in a way that gives us peace. Through Sunday School, church services, and Bible Classes, I was taught that God granted us “free will.” It is one of the few things that makes Christianity unique in that its’ followers desire to serve and worship, instead of submitting to God. After asking many questions and telling my story to others, some responded by defining what they believe to be Christianity and their interpretation of God.
One person responded that “God gave us choice. Without choice, he cannot come back to judge. He holds us responsible because of the free will he has granted. If humans did not have free will, then God cannot hold us responsible. He would become everything for you instead.”
Another responded by saying that one of God’s commandments is: ” Do not Judge.”
Other answers given were: “Humans like to think that they know what God thinks or want. We cannot even begin to fathom what God thinks or want and that is our mistake. We have created this image of God and his thoughts that is nothing like him.”
“He said that he created us in his own image.”
“God does not force anyone to serve him. He doesn’t force us to come to him or worship him. He gave us free will, to make a choice.”
“Christianity is not about submission. It is about free will.”
“Forcing someone to kneel before God has nothing to do with God. He doesn’t care if we kneel, he only cares about our hearts.”
“God is everywhere. He is omni-present. We do not need to go to church to receive God’s grace or mercy or to even communicate with him. Church is for fellowship.”
“No human is God, so he should not judge another human as if he is. We cannot begin to understand or figure out the power of God. It is not our place as humans.”
I have always questioned God. It seem almost impossible to understand something if you cannot question it. The contradictions and interpretations sometimes had me confused. Today, I find myself questioning others. The church, the Pastors, the congregations, the followers in all denominations. Who is God and what is religion?
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2 responses so far ↓
omari jackson // September 17, 2009 at 1:14 am
Your experience indicates that the pastor has his own method of serving God. It is true that there should be an orderly method of serving in His own way, and not in Our Own way. After all no one can convince me that prayers reach God because eyes were close and they don’t reach Him because eyes were not. The pastor may have developed his own sense of how to reach God and supported by the congregation, they continue to humiliate others, in a simply method of reaching to God. We should not forget that as the Jesus even said that durig prayers we should not be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners. He said we should pray secetly and God will pay us in public(Matthew 6: 5 and 6). Interestingly, Jesus did not say we should stand up or close our eyes. But since man has come up with methods to worship God in his own way, it is not surprising that you were treated in such a raw deal. But you should take heart because God looks in the heart of those who are serving him, and in the man-made methods of serving him. Personally while I believe that some organization in leadership in religion is important, I am careful of those relgious organizations who tend to honor the opinions of their leaders because I believe that a blind pastgor can lead me into a pit. The search for God is personal and therefore don’t let the experience dampen your desire to find God, for He is too close to find. And don’t feel discourage for what happened, and work for the good of all.
Mameneh // September 17, 2009 at 9:32 am
Thanks Omari
So many people have said to me in person what you have written to this post. Thanks for having the courage to comment on here without fear of judgement or retaliation. It means so much. This is what this site is all about, expressing your opinion without fear and with professionalism.